As I was perusing some sites that reference bodhran playing, I noticed a mention to playinh with the knuckles as opposed to a Tipper. As I primarily play bongo/conga/djembe with my hands, I was intrigued by this method. Any of you more seasoned players try this method? Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Bill

Hey Bill,

I've had no real experience with hand styles although I have had it demonstrated to me AND I sat on the loud side of Simon O'Dwyer for several sessions - if that's experience then yeah :)

Roscommon is the most common and is where the right (striking) hand is turned with the fingers toward the body, a bit like an extension of the 'kerry' bodhran technique. The flats of the backs of the fingers strike the drum.

I've seen it too (Tommy Hayes) where the thumb and pinky knuckles are extended and played like a Tipper.

It's very rare and I've never really seen it played as a primary style apart fromn Simon and his Charlie Byrne monster Jennett drum. It didn't strke me as being a tonal style, more about attack; the head was like a brick. I expect the style developed from convenience although there are great players out there.

Playing with finger tips is a different matter altogether - That I love!

HTH

Paul

Hi Bill- one outstanding exponent springs to mind - Christy Moore.....
Have fun.

When you say playing with fingertips, what exactly do you mean. Would you still hold the drum as you would using the Kerry style, or rotate it so that the skin faces away from you and play it that way? Any place you know of on line I can find out more information on either Roscommon or the fingertip method?

Hey Bill,

The knuckle method is the most common traditional way of playing hand style of which I am aware, I'm not sure that I know of any online examples of this style of playing, sorry. As I say, it's pretty rare.

Re the finger method, it's standard middle eastern finger drumming brought over to the bodhran - I've termed it the neo-bodhran to make the distinction between it and the traditional irish instrument :) The drum is held similarly to how one would play a large frame drum

As you might imagine, I have a bodojo page on this subject which includes some anecdotal stuff from Patrick Cooperman about how this came to be. There are also some great examples of playing and the various strokes by David Kuckherman.

HTH

P

Hi Bill,

If you go to the New improved Bodojo TV and look under neo-bodhran you'll see the finger technique. It doesn't come any better than Glen Velez or David Kuckhermann

enjoy

P